According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs, China imported 1.25 million tonnes of steel products in March 2014, up 1.6% or 20,000 tonnes from a year earlier. The figure represented a month-on-month increase of 15.2 percent on a daily basis.

Exports of steel products in March amounted to 6.76 million tonnes, an increment of 28% or 1.48 million tonnes from the same month last year. Compared to a month earlier, it posted a rise of 27.2% on a daily basis.

Net exports in March were 5.51 million tonnes, up 36% or 1.46 tonnes compared to year ago level. Compared to the previous month, it represented a gain of 30.3% on a daily basis.

In March, China's iron ore imports hit 73.96 million tonnes up 14.6% or 9.41 million tonnes year on year and up 12.72 million tonnes from the previous month. Daily imports in the month were 2.386 million tonnes, increasing by 9.1% MoM.

Average import price was USD 123.94 per tonne down USD 5.01 per tonne versus February. China's coke exports reached 650,000 tonnes in March 100,000 tonnes more than the prior month.